Rich Lucibella
Staff
The Trip:
We hunted four days in the TX Panhandle with license for Mulie and White Tail. Saw more deer than I've seen out there in 5 years. At least 8 decent Mulie Bucks but none truly shootable. The rut was definitely on.
The Gun:
Kimber 84M in .308.
Leupold 1.75 X 6
Hornady 165 GR Boat Tail Spire Point Light Mag
The Spot:
On the last morning of Mulie Season (and last day of my hunt), Ashley spotted 4 does and then a good buck at about 280 yards in moderate brush. Miko the Monster Dog saw 'em, too, and required immediate restraint. It was decided that we couldn't leave him alone at the truck; he'd just go nuts and run the buck off.
The Stalk:
Ashley remained at the truck kneeling on PsychoDoggie. I moved off thru the cedars. Never learned whether the doleful whimpering behind me was from Ash or Miko. Crawled the last 50 yards to the final piece of brush cover and spotted the Buck behind a small thicket, broadside with a good window to the shoulder.
The Shot:
135 yards, improvised kneel (support hand pulling up on some brier branches for stability). The Buck dropped out of sight like he'd been sledge hammered.
The Aftermath:
The 84M immediately jammed.....lesson to us all:
Bolts should be run aggressively in the shoulder, regardless of whether the animal dropped. Because of the bone smack and Buck drop, I remember thinking the shoot was over. I must have casually run the bolt, with barrel down and gloved hands. We can think of no other reason why this Mauser-Type action could have produced a double feed (spent cartridge in the chamber).
As Ashley ran up and Miko ran by, I was cursing the rifle and preparing to turn it into a tomato stake. We both suspected a spine shot, due to sound and reaction, and game is famous for recovering from same. We finally got the rifle back in action as we moved off, only to find we'd lost the exact spot of the hit.
Rich heads back to find the shoot spot. Calls to Ashley, "Look to your right, where Miko is." DOH! Miko was already snacking on fur and butt when we got there.
The Hit:
Above front shoulder, 2" high of body centerline. The 165 Grainer (and collateral bone missiles) took both lungs, top-o-heart and underside of thoracic spine.
The Buck:
6 X 5 Rack in great condition. Not the largest taken off the Ranch by a long shot, but my very first.....and larger than Ashley's
Memorable Hunt.
Rich
We hunted four days in the TX Panhandle with license for Mulie and White Tail. Saw more deer than I've seen out there in 5 years. At least 8 decent Mulie Bucks but none truly shootable. The rut was definitely on.
The Gun:
Kimber 84M in .308.
Leupold 1.75 X 6
Hornady 165 GR Boat Tail Spire Point Light Mag
The Spot:
On the last morning of Mulie Season (and last day of my hunt), Ashley spotted 4 does and then a good buck at about 280 yards in moderate brush. Miko the Monster Dog saw 'em, too, and required immediate restraint. It was decided that we couldn't leave him alone at the truck; he'd just go nuts and run the buck off.
The Stalk:
Ashley remained at the truck kneeling on PsychoDoggie. I moved off thru the cedars. Never learned whether the doleful whimpering behind me was from Ash or Miko. Crawled the last 50 yards to the final piece of brush cover and spotted the Buck behind a small thicket, broadside with a good window to the shoulder.
The Shot:
135 yards, improvised kneel (support hand pulling up on some brier branches for stability). The Buck dropped out of sight like he'd been sledge hammered.
The Aftermath:
The 84M immediately jammed.....lesson to us all:
Bolts should be run aggressively in the shoulder, regardless of whether the animal dropped. Because of the bone smack and Buck drop, I remember thinking the shoot was over. I must have casually run the bolt, with barrel down and gloved hands. We can think of no other reason why this Mauser-Type action could have produced a double feed (spent cartridge in the chamber).
As Ashley ran up and Miko ran by, I was cursing the rifle and preparing to turn it into a tomato stake. We both suspected a spine shot, due to sound and reaction, and game is famous for recovering from same. We finally got the rifle back in action as we moved off, only to find we'd lost the exact spot of the hit.
Rich heads back to find the shoot spot. Calls to Ashley, "Look to your right, where Miko is." DOH! Miko was already snacking on fur and butt when we got there.
The Hit:
Above front shoulder, 2" high of body centerline. The 165 Grainer (and collateral bone missiles) took both lungs, top-o-heart and underside of thoracic spine.
The Buck:
6 X 5 Rack in great condition. Not the largest taken off the Ranch by a long shot, but my very first.....and larger than Ashley's
Memorable Hunt.
Rich